Free Tax Preparation for Military Members
If you are in the military, you should be eligible for free tax preparation. This is a wonderful benefit, because taxes are complicated enough as is. But when you add certain military pay and benefits rules and money earned from bonuses and tax free zones, your tax return can become very complicated. Thankfully, there are several ways you can go about filing your taxes for free, and I’ll show you a few of them.
Free tax preparation at your military installation
Almost all military installations offer free tax preparation services. This service is usually done by volunteers who receive training (and their work is usually signed off on by a CPA). This service is available to all active duty members and retirees, Guard, Reserve, and some Civilian personnel, depending on location and available resources. Call you local base information office for more details.
Tax preparation software available free to the military
Some tax software companies offer their software free of charge to active duty military members. It is early in the tax season, and so far the only company I have found a couple offers for free tax preparation software for military members. If you find additional companies, please contact me know and I will add them to the following list:
Free tax preparation software for military members:
- TaxCut
- TaxAct
- Tax Slayer free military version.
- TurboTax (TaxFreedom.com).
IRS Free File – Prepare and file your 2008 Tax Return for free
The IRS has a program called Free File, in which participating companies and software programs offer free tax preparation for tax payers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of less than $54,000. The vast majority of military members have an AGI lower than $54,000, so you should qualify for Free File. Here is more information about the IRS Free File program and how to file your tax return for free.
Companies participating in the IRS Free File program
The following companies participate in the IRS Free File program. Note that each company may have slightly different eligibility rules and there may be an additional charge for state taxes. Each of these companies guarantees their software and offers Free File and free e-file, so you know your return will be filed with the IRS correctly and on time.
Free File with TaxCut: TaxCut is the software programby H&R Block. The TaxCut software is guaranteed and easy to navigate and use. The TaxCut Free File Online program guides you through a simple, standardized federal tax return to help ensure your taxes are done correctly. The form is pre-selected and there are no forms to select.
- File your 2008 federal tax return free with TaxCut.
Free File with TurboTax: TurboTax is the company I have the most experience with as I have used their software for the last few years. The TurboTax software is intuitive and easy to use, and takes you step by step through your return, including various types of income, deductions, tax credits, and more. The TurboTax Free file program supports the following IRS forms: 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ.
- File your 2008 federal tax return free with TurboTax.
Free E-file – TaxACT! TaxAct provides an IRS suppirted Free File program.The TaxAct Free File program offers IRS forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ. TaxAct also offers is a video demonstration of their tax service.
- File IRS Taxes FREE! with TaxACT.
Free File with FreeTaxUSA: FreeTaxUsa provides a Free File program for those with an AGI under $56,000, and free state tax filing is available for those with an AGI below $20,000. For those not eligible for a free state return, the cost is a modest $9.95. FreeTaxUSA’s Free File program covers all simple forms of income, deductions, and credits. Check out the FreeTaxUSA site for more details. (Note: Use Coupon Code – FEDFREE).
- File your 2008 federal tax return with FreeTaxUsa. (Note: Use Coupon Code – FEDFREE).
However you choose to file your taxes, I hope you are able to get your taxes prepared and filed for free. May your tax return is a good one and thanks for serving our country!
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January 12th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Last year, you could use the military one source page to find free ways to file your taxes (https://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/display.aspx?action=display_page&mode=User&ModuleID=8cde2e88-3052-448c-893d-d0b4b14b31c4&ObjectID=b59b74ec-dc7b-42f3-bea4-f0f29562e2df)
We used H&R Block’s Tax Cut through them and H&R Block has awesome customer service. We had problems filing a couple of years ago and they let me come to a local office, where they went through my tax return with a fine tooth comb and the tax law books and helped find the issue. Then they finished filing my taxes for me at no charge.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Hello Gypsie, Thanks for the link. The Military One Source link is not yet live, but I will try to link to it when it goes live this week.
Glad to hear you had such a great experience with TaxCut. I’ve heard great things regarding H&R Block’s TaxCut, and don’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone!
December 27th, 2009 at 4:13 am
I would recommend using H&R Block. For 2007 I used my base office and they inputed information wrong and cost me penalties. Do to obligations I used them again for 2008 as well. Its now December 2009 and I have resent the 08 return in 3x totally $4000 paid back(!) twice for the same issue once because they left a page out. I recieved a letter from the IRS saying my last submission sent in May 09 was recieved and good to go (letter dated December 15!!!!) Tonight I just got another letter dated December 21 saying earned income is wrong and have to pay another $1052. Why it wasnt caught on either end the last 3x is beyond me. And I dont know much about this but looking at it it looks like this time its a simple typo that screwed it up and the IRS computerdoesnt catch human error and adjust. Because I rate $2k for dependents which is what I was given, but the return shows $0 in one block adjusted by IRS to $1052, and then $2000 in another block adjusted by IRS to $948 in the end equally $2000 either way but their computer as slow as them catches it now and sees it as $1052 paid over. Like I said a simple typo. AVOID BASE TAX PREPS they’e nomally personnel who recieved a crash course no tax proffessionals and on my base there is only one tax proffessional and he got invoved directly and is the one who has messed up the last 2 submissions and now the 4th attempt. IT IS REDICULOUS!!!!!! Im going to use H&R Block this year at least if they screw it up they cover it, right now Im already out $4000 not including overnight certifed FedEx and penalties that the military offices just say oops were no responsible!